Dear Friends in Christ

This Advent begins a new year in the life of he Church and also a special Year: the Bishops of England and Wales have designated 2020 as The God Who Speaks: A Year of the Word to celebrate the 10th anniversary of Verbum Domini - Pope Benedict XVI’s Apostolic Exhortation on The Word of The Lord, and the 1600th anniversary of death of St Jerome, who translated the Bible into Latin. On the front of the Newsletter we have reproduced a detail from an altar piece which now hangs in the National Gallery, London. It sets the tone both for Advent and for this special Year of the Word. St Jerome is depicted beside the central figure of Advent - St John the Baptist he in turn points to the Cross to the Saviour who is to come and for whom he is the forerunner. Let this Advent be a genuine time of reflection of the Word of God. Two practical suggestions for this Advent: before and after Holy Mass let us try and maintain an atmosphere of silent recollection, as we prepare for Mass and make a thanksgiving afterwards. Before Mass reflect on the Readings - which is God speaking to us - that we are going to hear. After Mass, prolong the joy of Holy Communion in silent prayer of thanksgiving to Jesus who has come to us. The second suggestion is, remember that Christmas begins with Christmas; try and avoid the unnecessary celebrations that we are inevitably drawn into in these days before Christmas. There are twelve days of Christmas celebrations; our Cribs and decorations should go up towards the end of Advent and remain in place until at least the Epiphany, 6th January. In this way we live-out the Christian calendar with it’s own unique tones of fasting and feasting, recollection and rejoicing. May The God who Speaks to Us especially in this Year ahead, draw us by the sacred mysteries of His Incarnation, to a renewed love of His Holy Word.

May we all live a blessed Advent!

Msgr Kevin Hale

Priest@LourdesLeigh.org ✚ 01702 478078
The Sunday Homily is available as a podcast at LourdesLeigh.org